When they were admitted, the old lady and her daughters rose up, received them respectfully, and having seated them, placed refreshments before them, of which they partook, and were delighted with their treatment.  At length the sultan said, “Daughters, you cannot but know of the royal proclamation; how comes it that you alone of all the inhabitants of the city have disobeyed it by having lights in your house after the first watch of the night?” Upon this the youngest sister replied, “Good dervish, even the sultan should not be obeyed but in his reasonable commands, and as this proclamation against lighting our lamps is tyrannical, it ought not to be complied with, consistently with the law of scripture; for the Koraun says, ‘Obedience to a creature in a criminal matter, is a sin against the Creator.’  The sultan (may God pardon him!) acts against scripture, and obeys the dictates of Satan.  We three sisters, with our good mother, make it a rule to spin every night a certain quantity of cotton, which in the morning we dispose of, and of the price of our labour we lay out a part in provisions, and the remainder in a new supply of materials for working to procure us a subsistence.”

The sultan now whispered to his vizier, saying, “This damsel astonishes me by her answers; endeavour to think of some question that may perplex her.”  “My lord,” replied the vizier, “we are here in the characters of strangers and dervishes as their guests:  how then can we presume to disturb them by improper questions?” The sultan still insisted upon his addressing them:  upon which, the vizier said to the ladies, “Obedience to the sultan’s orders is incumbent upon all subjects.”  “It is true he is our sovereign,” exclaimed the youngest sister, “but how can he know whether we are starving or in affluence?” “Suppose,” replied the vizier, “he should send for you to the presence, and question you concerning your disobedience to his commands, what could you advance in excuse for yourselves?” “I would say to the sultan,” rejoined she, “‘Your majesty has acted in contradiction to the divine law.’”

The vizier upon this turned towards the sultan, and said in a whisper, “Let us leave off disputing further with this lady on points of law or conscience, and inquire if she understands the fine arts.”  The sultan put the question; upon which she replied, “I am perfect in all:”  and he then requested her to play and sing.  She retired immediately, but soon returning with a lute, sat down, tuned it, and played in a plaintive strain, which she accompanied with the following verses: 

“It is praiseworthy in subjects to obey their sovereigns, but his reign will continue long who gains their affections by kindness.  Be liberal in thy manners, and he who is dependent upon thee will pray for thy life, for the free man alone can feel gratitude.  To him who confers gifts man will ever resort, for bounty is fascinating.  Sadden not with denial the countenance of the man of genius, for the liberal mind is disgusted at stinginess and haughty demeanour.  Not a tenth part of mankind understand what is right, for human nature is ignorant, rebellious, and ungrateful.”